movies… Man, it's bright out there. Way too much sunshine for our taste. So we naturally gravitate to the world of shadows on Houston Street at the NYC Noir fest on now at the Film Forum. A great lineup, and it'll wash all that irritating California cheer out of our murky New York soul.

book… Tomorrow night, 8pm, in the GW Lounge of the West Side YMCA, Dominic Carter, NY1's senior political reporter and author of a new memoir No Momma's Boy: How I Let Go of My Past and Embraced the Future will talk about his new book. This is a gut-wrenching memoir — and makes Carter's accomplishments all the more awe-inspiring. RSVP for the event at 212.875.4124.

concert… Tonight at the Knitting Factory, 8:30pm, The Veltz Family (formerly Cecila). If you're expecting The Cowsills, forget it. Two sisters, a brother, mom, and dad are really a pleasure to hear (no disrespect meant to The Cowsills — don't write us). Check out their biographical video here.

out of town… No one ever mentions that one of life's great divides is you're fine with the couch/you're too old for the couch. For the former, Couch Surfing is a social network/travel website hybrid that will get you a free night's stay and, the idea is, friends around the world.

head's up… Billion Dollar Babe is holding one of their popular sales from 8/21-8/23. You need to RSVP, which you can do here.